The 3D ACIS® Modeler (ACIS) is a 3D modelling kernel (or engine) owned by Spatial Corporation (formerly Spatial Technology). ACIS is used by many software developers industries such as computer-aided design, (CAD), Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), Computer-aided engineering (CAE), Architecture, engineering and construction (AEC), Coordinate-measuring machine (CMM), 3D animation, and shipbuilding. ACIS provides software developers and manufacturers the underlying 3D modeling functionality. ACIS or Acis could refer to: ACIS, a solid modelling program by Spatial Technology Algoma Central Railway (AAR reporting mark ACIS) Acis, a character in Greek mythology This page about a 4-letter acronym or initialism is a disambiguation page—a list of articles associated with the same title. ... Software development is the translation of a user need or marketing goal into a software product. ... Spatial Corporation was founded in 1986, and had one main product: ACIS, the first commercially available 3D modeling kernel. ... A software release is the distribution, whether public or private, of an initial or new and upgraded version of a computer software product. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... // An operating system (OS) is the software that manages the sharing of the resources of a computer. ... Windows 2000 (also referred to as Win2K) is a preemptive, interruptible, graphical and business-oriented operating system that was designed to work with either uniprocessor or symmetric multi-processor 32-bit Intel x86 computers. ... Windows redirects here. ... AIX (Advanced Interactive eXecutive) is a proprietary operating system developed by IBM based on UNIX System V. Before the product was ever marketed, the acronym AIX originally stood for Advanced IBM UNIX. AIX has pioneered numerous network operating system enhancements, introducing new innovations later adopted by Unix-like operating systems... IBM redirects here. ... Solaris is a computer operating system developed by Sun Microsystems. ... Sun Microsystems, Inc. ... HP-UX (Hewlett Packard UniX) is Hewlett-Packards proprietary implementation of the Unix operating system, based on System V (initially System III). ... The Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE: HPQ), commonly known as HP, is a very large, global company headquartered in Palo Alto, California, United States. ... Mac OS X (IPA: ) is a line of graphical operating systems developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. ... Apple Inc. ... This article is about operating systems that use the Linux kernel. ... Red Hat, Inc. ... Computer software can be organized into categories based on common function, type, or field of use. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into 3D computer graphics software. ... A software license is a legal agreement which may take the form of a proprietary or gratuitous license as well as a memorandum of contract between a producer and a user of computer software. ... It has been suggested that closed source be merged into this article or section. ... A website (alternatively, Web site or web site) is a collection of Web pages, images, videos and other digital assets that is hosted on one or several Web server(s), usually accessible via the Internet, cell phone or a LAN. A Web page is a document, typically written in HTML... The rewrite of this article is being devised at Talk:3D computer graphics/Temp. ... Kernel can mean: seed kernel (computer science) kernel (mathematics) See also Kernel (serbias leading dnb producers & djs - Phase & Toxic, also known as Codex ) Colonel (a homophone) This is a disambiguation page: a list of articles associated with the same title. ... Spatial Corporation was founded in 1986, and had one main product: ACIS, the first commercially available 3D modeling kernel. ... “CAD” redirects here. ... Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) is the use of a wide range of Product Lifecycle Management computer-based software tools that assist engineers, Tool and die makers and CNC machinists, in the manufacture or prototyping of product components. ... Computer-aided Engineering analysis (often referred to as CAE) is the application of computer software in engineering to analyze the robustness and performance of components and assemblies. ... Coordinate Measuring Machines are mechanical systems designed to move a measuring probe to determine coordinates of points on a work piece surface. ... The rewrite of this article is being devised at Talk:3D computer graphics/Temp. ...

ACIS features an open, object-oriented C++ architecture that enables robust, 3D modelling capabilities. ACIS is used to construct applications with hybrid modeling features, since it integrates wireframe model, surface, and solid modeling functionality with both manifold and non-manifold topology, and a rich set of geometric operations. Object-oriented programming (OOP) is a computer programming paradigm in which a software system is modeled as a set of objects that interact with each other. ... A wire frame model is a visual presentation of an electronic representation of a three dimensional or physical object used in 3D computer graphics. ... An open surface with X-, Y-, and Z-contours shown. ... Solid modeling (or modelling) is the unambiguous representation of the solid parts of an object, that is, models of solid objects suitable for computer processing. ...

ACIS can also be used for a 3D CAD file formatting that will allow you to do a FEM on a MRI image. In numerical analysis, the finite element method (FEM) is used for solving partial differential equations (PDE) approximately. ... The mri are a fictional alien species in the Faded Sun Trilogy of C.J. Cherryh. ...

History

As a geometric kernel, ACIS, along with Parasolid, is second generation system, coming after the first generation Romulus )^[1] This page is a candidate for speedy deletion, because: External Link Only If you disagree with its speedy deletion, please explain why on its talk page or at Wikipedia:Speedy deletions. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

There are several versions about what the word ACIS actually stands for, or whether it is an acronym at all. The most popular version is that ACIS stands for Alan, Charles, Ian's System (Alan Grayer, Charles Lang and Ian Braid as part of Three-Space Ltd.), or Alan, Charles, Ian and Spatial (as the system was later on sold to Spatial Technology, now Spatial Corp). However,when asked, the creators of ACIS would simply suggest that its name was derived from Greek mythology (See also Acis). It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Backronym and Apronym (Discuss) Acronyms and initialisms are abbreviations, such as NATO, laser, and ABC, written as the initial letter or letters of words, and pronounced on the basis of this abbreviated written form. ... Spatial Corporation was founded in 1986, and had one main product: ACIS, the first commercially available 3D modeling kernel. ... The bust of Zeus found at Otricoli (Sala Rotonda, Museo Pio-Clementino, Vatican) Greek mythology is the body of stories belonging to the Ancient Greeks concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. ... For other uses, see ACIS (disambiguation). ...

In 1985 Charles Lang and Ian Braid (creators of Romulus and Romulus-D) formed Three-Space Ltd. (Cambridge, England) which had been retained by Dick Sowar's Spatial Technology (which had ben founded by Sowar in 1986) to develop the ACIS solid modeling kernel for Spatial Technology's Strata CAM software. The first version of ACIS was released in 1989 and was quickly licensed by HP for integration into its ME CAD software. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Geography Status City (1951) Region East of England Admin. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... HP may refer to: Handley Page Aircraft Company Harry Potter, a series of fantasy novels by British writer J. K. Rowling Hello! Project (H!P), a Japanese pop recording project Hewlett-Packard, a computer and computer peripheral company High Point, North Carolina High potency, a term used in biology, pharmacology...

In late 2000, around the time when Spatial was acquired out by Dassault Systemes, the ACIS file format changed slightly and was no longer openly published. f Dassault Systemes (Dassault Systèmes S.A.) (Pronounced - Dasoh) ((Nasdaq: DASTY; Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA)) is a leading company specializing in 3D and PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) software. ...

Architecture

A software component is a functionally specialized unit of software—a collection of software items (functions, classes, etc.) grouped together to serve some distinct purpose. It serves as a constituent part of a whole software system or product. A product is one or more software components that are assembled together and sold as a package. Components can be arranged in different combinations to form different products. Software component representations: above the representation used in UML, below the representation commonly used by Microsofts COM objects. ...

The ACIS product line is designed using software component technology, which allows an application to use only the components it requires. In some cases, more than one component is available (either from Spatial or third party vendors) for a given purpose, so application developers can use the component that best meets their needs. For example, several rendering components are available from Spatial, and developers use the one that works best for their platform or application.

Supported Platforms and Operating Systems

Functionality

ACIS Modeler

ACIS core functionality^[2] can be subclassified into three categories, namely:

3D Modelling

• Extrude/revolve/sweep sets of 2D curves into complex surfaces or solids.
• Fillet and chamfer between faces and along edges in surface and solid models.
• Fit surfaces to a closed network of curves.
• Generate patterns of repetitive shapes.
• Hollow solids and thicken surfaces.
• Interactively bend, twist, stretch, and warp combinations of curves, surfaces, and solids.
• Intersect/subtract/unite any combination of curves, surfaces, and solids.
• Loft surfaces to fit a set of profile curves.
• Taper/offset/move surfaces in a model.

3D Model Management

• Attach user-defined data to any level of a model.
• Track geometry and topology changes.
• Calculate mass and volume.
• Model sub-regions of a solid using cellular topology.
• Unlimited undo/redo with independent history streams.

3D Model Visualization

• Tessellate surface geometry into polygonal mesh representation.
• Create advanced surfacing capabilities with the optional Deformable Modeling component.
• Generate precise 2D projections with hidden line removal using optional PHL V5 component.
• Develop graphical applications easily using Tech Soft America's HOOPS 3d Application Framework, available from Spatial and integrated with ACIS

ACIS Modeler Extensions

3D Deformable Modeling

3D Deformable Modeling is an interactive sculpting tool for shaping 3D models. Included as part of Spatial's suite of 3D modeling development technologies, 3D Deformable Modeling uses local and global editing features that allow for the easy creation and manipulation of free-form B-spline and NURBS curves and surfaces.

Advanced Covering

Advanced Covering is a feature of Deformable Modeling that is now available as a standalone add-on for the 3D ACIS Modeler. This single API uses sophisticated algorithms to create high-quality n-sided surfaces that meet user-specified tolerances for position and continuity on boundaries and on optional internal guiding geometry. Advanced Covering allows a surface to be fit onto circuits (collections of edges that form closed loops) in solid or wire bodies, which is useful in consumer product design. Among other uses, Advanced Covering can be used for end-capping, post-translation corrections, and surface definition from curve data.

Defeaturing

Defeaturing automatically identifies and removes small features that CAE analysts typically want to eliminate from the 3D model prior to meshing. Analysts frequently work from the same models that are used for design and manufacture, but these models often carry much more detail than is necessary for simulation or analysis purposes. By removing unnecessary detail, Defeaturing simplifies the model, a process that typically is done manually at significant cost.

3D PHL V5

3D ACIS® PHL V5 is a hidden line removal (HLR) solution from Spatial based on CATIA V5 technology. 3D ACIS PHL V5 is an ACIS-dependent development technology - an ACIS license is required. Though 3D is now the de facto CAD standard in most engineering disciplines, 2D still has a place in industries such as technical illustration, manufacturing, and architecture. Since 3D models are the typical primary output for CAD design, users in these industries require an efficient and accurate method of generating 2D computational drawings directly from the 3D models. Hidden line removal (HLR) is an important aspect of creating an accurate 2D representation from a 3D model. Using HLR, the converted model only displays those parts visible from a given perspective; hidden (or occluded) edges normally included in a 3D model representation are removed, or drawn in a line style that indicates their obscured position.

In the mathematical subfield of numerical analysis a B-spline is a spline function which has minimal support with respect to a given degree, smoothness, and domain partition. ... NURBS, short for nonuniform rational B-spline, is a computer graphics technique for drawing curves. ... This article is about the general term. ... CATIA (Computer Aided Three dimensional Interactive Application) is a multi-platform PLM/CAD/CAM/CAE commercial software suite developed by Dassault Systemes and marketed world-wide by IBM. It was used by Frank Gehry in his building of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. ... Manufacturing (from Latin manu factura, making by hand) is the use of tools and labor to make things for use or sale. ... Section of the dome of Florence Cathedral. ...

File format

ACIS saves modeling information to external files which have an open format allowing external applications, even those not based on ACIS, access to the ACIS geometric model. The basic information needed to understand the ACIS file format (focusing on the reading, or restore, operation), includes the structure of the save file format, how data is encapsulated, the types of data written, and subtypes and references.

Save File Types

ACIS supports two kinds of save files, Standard ACIS Text (SAT), and Standard ACIS Binary (SAB). The two formats store identical information, so the term SAT file is generally used to refer to either (when no distinction is needed). SAT files are ASCII text files that may be viewed with a simple text editor. A SAT file contains carriage returns, white space and other formatting that makes it readable to the human eye. A SAT file has a .sat file extension. SAB files cannot be viewed with a simple text editor and are meant for compactness and not for human readability. A SAB file has a .sab file extension. A SAB file uses delimiters between elements and binary tags, without additional formatting.

Structure of the Save File

A save file contains:

• a three-line header
• entity records, representing the bulk of the data
• optionally, a begin history data marker
• optionally, old entity records needed for history and rollback
• optionally, an end history data marker
• an end marker

Beginning with ACIS Release 6.3, it is required that the product ID and units be populated for the file header before you can save a SAT file.

Version Numbers and ACIS Releases

ACIS is currently being developed by Spatial. They maintain the concept of a current version (release) number in ACIS, as well as a save version number. The save version allows one to create a SAT save file that can be read by a previous version of ACIS.

Beginning with ACIS Release 4.0, the SAT save file format does not change with minor releases, only with major releases. This allows applications that are based upon the same major version of ACIS to exchange data without being concerned about the save version. To provide this interoperability in a simple implementation, ACIS save files have contained a symbol that accurately identified the major version number, but not the minor version. This meant that applications created using the same major version of ACIS would produce compatible save files, regardless of their minor versions. This was accomplished by simply not incrementing the internal minor version number between major versions.

Beginning with Release 7.0, ACIS started again providing accurate major, minor, and point version numbers.

To summarize how release numbers and SAT changes are related:

• Major release: SAT file changes may be made; significant functionality changes likely; may require significant changes to existing applications
• Minor release: No SAT file changes are made; may provide new functionality; may require some minimal changes to existing applications
• Point release: Minor changes only (bug fixes). (Also known as service packs).

In January 2006, Spatial announced ACIS Release 16.0. April 2007 Spatial launches ACIS Release 17.0.

References

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 73rd day of the year (74th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... March 16 is the 75th day of the year (76th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Spatial Corporation Homepage
• ACIS Modeler Information
• ACIS File Format
• Acis Alliance
• (March 2000) "Healing the wounds of data conversion". AEC Magazine 13 (03). 

This article was originally based on material from the Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, which is licensed under the GFDL. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Bold text // “GFDL” redirects here. ...